My Best Butterfly Moment 2016
Sharan Venkatesh
It ' s actually moments instead of a single moment. I can ' t just think of one moment. As said last year too, through out the year there ' s something or the other which becomes an unforgettable moment. Have also shared few sightings from nearby states too. Don ' t feel like mentioning best moments from our state alone. Butterflies has NO BOUNDARIES. This is going to be lengthy, and I ' m not sure if everyone will read it FULLY and COMMENT BACK. But I definitely love sharing with you all. So here it goes.
# Mybestbutterflymoment2016 kick-started at the very first day of the year 1.1.16 with the sightings of RESTRICTED SPOTTED FLAT with Vinod Sriramulu anna at Kallar. We were doubting this sps for so long which at last turned to one rarity. Then comes BANDED ROYAL female from madikeri, Coorg. We family went for a new year trip which turned out to be a butterfly paradise, best was sighting a female royal waiting it to open its wings and making a picture. Then comes the much awaited ALIDA ANGLE, Have always wanted to sight it in Rajapalayam and I was sure it would be here In Ayyanar falls- with much support and encouragement from Ramasamy SRK uncle I made it finally to sight it.
FEB- This was the month we had our Megamalai butterfly walk and from this walk I completed documenting 200sps of Butterflies in 6½ months, and guess what it was PALNI FOURRING which was the 200th.
And also my long time wait for RED PIERROT finally happened irrespective of too many jealousies from the CBE brothers Theivaprakasham Hari and Ramanasaran Hari. And in this month I did my lifecycle of BANANA SKIPPERS too which was too interesting to do.
MARCH- my first best ever trip for butterflies I would say, and that was in Manjolai, KMTR. Thanks Umesh anna for your good hospitality and sharing your knowledge on butterflies and also our great luck combo in the field which fetched us SPOT PUFFIN, CLEAR SAILER, BICOLOR ACE, DARK CEYLON 6LINEBLUE, ROUNDED 6LINEBLUE and my second sighting of EVER- SHEDS ACE, and also TAMIL CATSEYE. From the end of this trip I also completed one of my family series " PANSIES ".
APR- April was literally dry in my place but that never disappointed me from exploring. Happy that myself, Santhosh Kshathriya, Pranav Abi have waiting for hours for this male INDIAN SUNBEAM to bask and shot its beautiful bright orange open wing.
MAY- A dream come true for my second trip to Manjolai, KMTR. And to continue my luck streak with Umesh anna, I ' m so thankful to him for showing me his YELLOWBASED TREE FLITTER which he reared as soon as myself and Pranav got down. We also sighted few individuals the next day along with COLOUR SERGEANT, IMPERIAL, PALE 4LINEBLUE and others. Again from this trip I completed photo documenting " SERGEANT " family. And also early stages of y. b. flitter.
JUN- June again was another unforgettable month for me myself and Pranav as there were plenty of LARGE OAKBLUEs in his farm and it ' s the first time I ' m sighting it. Ayyanar falls indeed never disappoints, it brought us LARGE GUAVA BLUE from nowhere amidst the hot sunny afternoon, myself, Ramasamy srk uncle Also sighted SILVERSTREAK BLUE which I couldn ' t make a picture. we sighted COMMANDER laying eggs and we were able to do its interesting lifecycle. This month team TNBS were on a trip to Manjolai with sightings like TINSEL, I should definitely say this members of Rajapalayam butterfly club were so jealous: P and we immediately took our bikes to Courtallam, and guess what we were back with. Yes, it ' s a FLUFFY TIT and that’ s one unforgettable memory and a trip. Thanks to Pavendhan na and prakash.
JUL: it ' s like every dog has its day, the missed chance of last month finally accomplished when team TNBS visited Rjpm. Yes it ' s the SILVERSTREAK BLUE which came so near to us when we were not even in a butterflying mood and waiting for lunch, thanks to God who showed some mercy. This walk I got sighting of GUADY BARON which is an other rare one and new to RAJAPALAYAM list.